Train-order hoop



F. E. COFFEEN.

TRAIN ORDER HOOP. APPLICATION FIILED 00127, 1919.

Patented Dec.28,1920.

v INVENTOR J am'sfl @ZWM ATTRNEYS FRANCIS E. GOFFEEN, OF TACOMA,WASHINGTON.

TRAIN-ORDER HOOP.

Application filed October 27, 1919. Serial No. 333,628.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANCIS E. COFFEEN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of Tacoma,,county of Pierce, and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Order Hoops, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention comprises improvement in train order hoops of the typewhich are used in passing orders from despatchers to a pass ing trainwithout stopping the train. My invention relates particularly to devicesfor holding and securing the order to the hoop.

The object of my invention is to provide means in connection with atrain order hoop which will securely and positively hold an order to thehoop, and insure the receipt of the order by the trainman who receivesthe hoop.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby one or moretrain orders may be secured to a train order hoop, either singly ortogether, and in a positive and secure manner.

My invention comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts whichare shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification,and defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the drawings I have shown my inven tion in the forms which are nowpreferred by me.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a wire hoop showing my attaching meanssecured thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing one means of attaching an order to the hoop.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of a portion of a wooden hoop showinganother means of attaching an order thereto.

Fig. 4* is a detail showing still another manner of attaching an orderto the hoop.

Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of a wooden hoop showing means wherebytwo or more orders may be attached to the hoop.

Fig. 6 illustrates a means of forming a hoop for use with my device, ofwire.

In carrying out my invention I may employ any suitable form of railwaytrain order hoop. The hoop may be made or iron or bent wood, of fiber,or of any combination of these materials, or of any suitable material.My invention lies in the manner of securing orders to a hoop rather thanin the hoop or particular material used. The ordinary hoop is composedof a staff of wire or wood formed with a handle 1 at one end, and havingits other end bentto form a hoop 2, and secured as at 3 to the handle.This leaves an end 4 of the staff which forms the hoop, projectinglaterally from its connection to the handle 1. The connection at 3between the laterally projecting portio g f the hoop and the handle 1-may be made in any suitable way. As shown herein the connection isformed by a piece of wire which is bent about and secured to the handle1.

Secured upon and wound about the portion 5 of the hoop which forms anextension of the handle 1, is a helically coiled wire member 6; thisfits rather loosely uponthe portion 5 and may be slid thereonlongitudinally and rotated thereon. At its end toward the handle 1 thiswire coil is provided with a projecting finger 7 which is adapted toengage the portion l oi the hoop and the train order when it is rotated.Atits other end, the coil 6 isbent in such manner, as at. 8, as toprevent its removal past the portion 4 of the hoop.

As the coil 6 is rotated, the finger 7 engages the portion 4 of thehoop, and the coil embraces this portion as is shown in the drawings.The portion 4 in this manner prevents the coil from being moved axiallyupon the handle 1, or'the extension 5 thereof. It a train order,represented by 9, be laid along the handle, and upon coil 6, the coilwill upon rotation include a portion of the order as is shown at 10. Thefinger 7 engages the order andembraces it. Thus an order may be securelyheld in the coils of the member 6 simply by rotation of the latter uponthe handle. This manner of securing thev order is shown in Fig. 2.

Other means of attaching orders are shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In Fig.the order is first bent about the portion 4: of the hoop and the coil 6is then rotated about this portion and the order. The finger 7 engagesthe order. This forms a very secure means of holding the order and theorder is as rapidly attached by this means as by any other. In Fig. 4. asimilar method of attachment is employed, this being a combination ofthe method shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The order is first secured in themanner shown in Fig. 2, and its free end is then bent over ,and alsosecured within the coil 6.

This method may be employed if the coil is already partially engagedwith the portion 4;.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which two or more orders may beattached to the hoop. It may happen that after one order has been givenand is attached to the hoop ready for delivery, a second order modifyingor canceling the first order may be received. It is the practice in sucha case to deliver both orders to the trainmen. After the first order hasbeen attached as shown at 9, the sec- 0nd order 11 may be attached bylaying this along the handle 1 in the same manner as the order 9 wassecured, and further rotating the coil 6. Both orders are therebysecured firmly and securely held, and both are delivered to thetrainmen.

The ordinary method of securing orders to such hoops has been founddefective, in that orders, are often torn from beneath spring clipswhich are used to secure them to the hoops, owing to the wind created bythe passage of the train. lhe present hoops also must be made of orinclude a portion of wood in order to form a basis for the securing ofthe spring clips now in use. By

' the use of my invention the order is positively. secured to the hoopand maynot be blown out. The use of such devices as rubber bands is madeunnecessary. The order may be very quicklv secured to the hoop, andhoops of many different materials, and of more lasting quality may beemployed.

What I claim as my invention is 1. An order holding device for trainorder hoops comprising a helical coil surrounding and rotative upon apart thereof.

2. An order holding device for train order hoops comprising a helicalcoil surrounding and rotative upon a part thereof, and means for holdingsaid coil against endwise movement.

3. An order holding device for train order hoops comprising an orderholding finger mounted to turn upon a part thereof and spaced slightlyaway therefrom, and adapted upon turning to secure an order betweenitself and the hoop.

LA train order hoop having a bar, a member extending laterallytherefrom, and a helically coiled wire surrounding and rotativelymounted upon said bar and embracing the said laterally extending member.

5. A train order hoop comprising a staff, one end of said staff forminga handle, and the other end being bent to form the hoop, and beingsecured to the handle and extending laterally therefrom, and ahelicallycoiled wire secured upon said hoop and surrounding the staff,said coil being adapted by rotative motion to embrace the portion of thehoop which extends laterally from the handle.

6. A train order hoop comprising a staff, one end of said staff forminga handle, and the other end being bent to form the hoop, and beingsecured to the handle and extending laterally therefrom, and ahelicallycoiled wire secured upon said hoop and surrounding the staff,said coil being adapted by rotative motion to embrace the portion of thehoop which extends laterally from the handle, and an order-holdingfinger secured upon the end of the coil nearest the handle.

7. A train order hoop comprising a staff, one end of said stafl forminga handle, and the other end being bentto form the hoop, and beingsecured to the handle and extending laterally therefrom, and a helicallycoiled wire secured upon said hoop and surrounding the stafi, said coilbeing adapted by rotative motion to embrace the portion of the hoopwhich extends laterally from the handle, said coil being provided withmeans for preventing its removal from the hoop.

8. An order holding device-for train order hoops comprising a membersurrounding and rotative upon a part thereof, and provided with a fingeradapted upon turning to secure an order between itself and the hoop.

9. An order holding device for train order hoops comprising a membersurrounding and rotative upon a part thereof, and adapted to hold anorder, said member being engageable with the hoop upon rotation toprevent lengthwise movement thereon.

Signed at Seattle, Vvashington, this 20th day of October, 1919. I

FRANCIS OOFFEEN.

